All Clogged Up - Plumbing Problems?

There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with something that's not functioning properly. A clogged drain is definitely one of them. Of course your stopped up drain is usually the result of all types of debris that has managed to get into the pipes of your plumbing system. A unique comparison would be the way bacteria manages to get into our system and cause a common cold or some type of infection in our bodies. The cold and flu season is a challenging time in households across America. There are those who attempt to get a flu shot to prevent them from getting ill, and then those who don't.

Our plumbing system requires adequate protection as well. When we disregard food that continuously slips down our drain into our pipes and hair that becomes lodged in the same we are headed for trouble, ask a Lewisville plumber. He would share with you that a backed up sink, tub or toilet is often a symptom of a much bigger problem.

Similar to congestion that lingers in our bodies, if not removed it leads to more complicated issues. Some attempt to spend unnecessary money on plumbing products to remedy their issue. However, many times the issue has already grown to a problem that requires more than a simple home remedy at this point. It's the same way with our cold symptoms. In the beginning stages we attempt to weather the storm of bacteria and unwanted aches and pains with over-the-counter medications. However, when the situation doesn't get better we make our way to the doctor. Calling a Lewisville plumber to do an analysis of your issue is the best method to take for your clogged drain. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Most Common Plumbing Problems

Defective Toilet Flush

The first thing you will notice upon your assessment is a loosen flush handle. A working flush handle will produce a slight resistance or pressure upon pushing it down. Check the top tank and install this again for a quick fix. If this doesn't work, check of there is anything obstructing form the inside of the tank. Check the other parts regularly as it may need replacement or re- installment. Again if this does not fix your problem, consult with a plumbing service to save you from a more serious damage.

Clogged Drain

A common plumbing issue is a clogged drain. This is usually caused by the accumulation of waste products that eventually slows down the flow of fluids from the sink. Such waste products could be debris from the buildup of grease or food. Usually, the drain has some protective part for this kind of problem. After you have tried all possible means for this problem and if you assessed that there is already a long- term accumulation of debris in your drain, you might want to consider having your plumbing system checked.

In your bathroom drain, accumulated hair strands and soap chips may cause the drain to be clogged. To prevent too much build up of wastes, place a hair trap on the drain and check it regularly. Most plumbers such as the Provo Plumber suggest that homeowners should try all possible solutions first before consulting with a professional plumbing service. One common step is to use a plunger.

If this does not work and the drain is still clogged, you may use a chemical cleaner but bear in mind not to use a plunger after pouring it into the drain. This may result to splashing of the chemicals and may end up to a more serious problem. Be careful not to mix the chemicals because it may react rapidly. Be cautious after pouring the chemicals as it may produce gases. From these steps, the clogs will eventually dissolve and free the obstruction from the drain. If this does not happen, try calling for a professional plumbing service to assist you.

Plumbing Problems and Repairs

Have you faced any of these problems lately: the drain clogs up, the faucet drips, a broken pipe sprays water, and the toilet won't flush and so on. How did you handle the problem? You put your plumber skills at work or you called the local emergency plumbing service?

It's good if you can make your own repairs when something minor occurs, but whenever the problem gets serious always turn to professional service. Particularly when you need to work in areas difficult to access, like pipes that are hidden behind walls or under floors it's good to call the pros.

Here are some tips on how to handle two of the most common plumbing issues:

Clogged drain

Prevention is safer, whenever you see that water starts to flow slower it means that a clog is starting to form. In this case it's always easier to use a chemical drain cleaner to open a slow moving drain, but only after you tried to clear out the hair blockage in the drain and plunged the drain. If none of the above work, call your plumber.

Leaking faucet

Fix your leaking faucet and start saving on your water bill. If your faucet is too old, that means it needs replacement, but otherwise with the appropriate tools and some patience you will be able to fix it in no time. First shut off the water supply and open the valves to drain the excess water from the system, take of the handle and from there on just check carefully which parts are worn out and need replacement or what need loosening or tightening.

If you have the patience and time go ahead and fix it, but whenever you need a professional plumber try this Tigard emergency plumbing services.

Plumbing Problems at Work? Do it Yourself?

You're at work, maybe getting coffee in the break room or checking in on the courtesy restrooms, and you see a leak. You may think it's nothing urgent, nothing a small tweak with a wrench can't fix. However, the trained eye of a commercial plumber may see something entirely different.

Unlike residential plumbing, commercial plumbing brings on different challenges and issues that may prove more complicated for an untrained person to handle. Leaks and problems with water flow may indicate problems deep within the building where your business is housed, and if you work in a strip building or are connected to other businesses the tweaking you do on pipes and fixtures could effect others.

Should you try to handle the problem yourself? There are a number of reasons why that wouldn't be recommended:

Inexperience: If you're not certain how to use wrench or other tool to fix a pipe, you risk doing more damage than is already there. Furthermore, what you see as a minor leak could be the beginning of a cracked pipe that will require more care and likely equipment you don't have on hand.

Liability: If you should happen to get injured while trying to fix a plumbing problem, your business will not only have to deal with the leak but also any workman's compensation, if applicable. You also risk losing work if hurt.

What is the best course to take here? If you're able to pinpoint the origin of the plumbing problem, contact a commercial plumber for a consultation. Commercial plumbing mechanics are trained to specifically assess pipework in non-residential buildings, and are able to make any repairs without disrupting your work or your customers.

How to Deal With Plumbing Problems

To minimize or fix the damage brought about by these plumbing concerns, you must familiarize yourself with the plumbing system you have at home. The first thing you need to do is locate where the main water shutoff valve is and how to turn it off. This valve is typically outside your home or in your basement or crawlspace. In case you can't find it, ask your local utility company to show you where it is. This is an important step because turning off the main valve limits the risk of a pipe bursting which could lead to your home suffering from water damage.

You should likewise inspect each plumbing device (sinks, toilets, and so on) for their shutoff valves. This will enable you to test if they are in working order. Should the valves fail to stop water from coursing through to the device, then it could only mean you have a faulty valve. Have it fixed by a professional plumber as soon as possible.

Clogs

Initiate preventive measures to avoid clogs and slow drains from occurring. For your tub or shower, get hair traps or screen to filter hair and soap scum and keep them from going down the drain. Never pour coffee grounds and grease down your kitchen drain. The fatty deposits will jell over time, stick to your pipes where it acts as a magnet attracting other particles, and eventually clog your pipes.

Periodically inspect your drains; preferably do this on a weekly basis. This will ensure that your pipes are free from deposits that might turn into clog. To do this, pour salt, baking soda, and vinegar (half-cup each) down the drain and follow with two quarts of boiling water. If a clog is detected, take measures to free the pipes. You can make use of a plunger, pipe snake, or a chemical clog remover (usually lye).

Drips and Leaks

Stopping or slowing down a leak (as a stopgap measure) before a plumber can get to it can be accomplished by following these simple steps.
(1) Tighten and secure a leaking threaded joint with a pipe wrench. If the pipe has no threads, leave it be. Let the professionals handle it.
(2) Using the tip of a sharpened pencil, plug a very small hole and then cover the hole with duct tape, wrapping it in several layers.
(3) Alternatively, apply sealant mixture specially formulated for leaks caused by cracks or small holes.
(4) Repair larger holes by clamping a piece of rubber or garden hose around the pipe. Cut a length of rubber or garden hose at least two inches longer than the hole. For this, you will need at least three hose clamps.

Keep in mind that these are just temporary or stopgap measures that will help prevent water damage but in the end, you still need to hire the services of a professional plumber.

Water Test Kits Help Identify Water Problems

Water test kits are a great way to figure out what kind of unseen substances and contaminants might be swimming in the liquid that comes into your home. Most people use these kits primarily for testing the quality of their drinking fluid. However, others uses, like testing for fluid hardness or for other factors that can have negative effects on gardens, ponds and pools, are also a consideration.

Just having hard liquid can cause a number of problems, both for the people using the fluid and for the piping system or equipment in the house that either moves or uses the water. Water test kits can help you avoid unforeseen problems. Mineral build up is the most common problem that comes along with hard liquid and this can cause problems with clogging and damage to the plumbing system.

Just as there are a variety of assorted reasons why people buy water test kits, there are also a variety of kits available for different specific purposes. Therefore, it is best to know beforehand which of the fluid based issues you need to address. Following are some of the different issues for which you may wish to use a fluid testing kit.

If your laundry is starting to look very dingy, or your laundry detergent does not bubble up well, or your soap or shampoo doesn't lather up nicely, then these could be signs of hard fluid. In this case, you will want to purchase water test kits that are designed to test for the hardness factor of your liquid.

Such tests can be as simple as taking a test strip and dipping it into the water. You should know the results in about 20 seconds, as the test kit will come with a key which will tell you what the test result means. If the test reveals that you do indeed have hard liquid where you live, then you can start to look for equivalent softener solutions to relieve this scenario.

Another common scenario for using water test kits, is to screen for harmful chemicals that may be present in the drinking fluid in your home. For instance, if you have a new baby in the home and you want to mix formula using tap water, you may be concerned that it is not pure and free of chemicals that you do not want in the formula.

While you can easily add a drinking water filter to your kitchen faucet, it may also be a good idea to take the extra step and test the liquid so you know that the type of filter you choose can handle the type of contaminants in the fluid. There are many purity testing kits you can get just for testing drinking liquid quality.

These will warn you if there are particularly high levels of any contaminant and the results will be a valuable guide in choosing the proper house filtration system for your family.

There are water test kits that are designed to be used to test the quality of fluid in aquariums. The primary purpose is to get an indication of the amount of chlorine and ammonia in the liquid since both are harmful to fish. Other kits can be used to test the liquid in spas and pools, and still other tests are useful to test the fluid in various kinds of ponds.

Don't Get Flushed by Plumbing Problems

There are several plumbing problems that the do-it-yourselfer can fix with little effort and a lot less money than calling a plumber. Remember the DIY motto is to only call for professional help when absolutely necessary. Now there is nothing wrong with hiring a professional because we cannot possibly do every project ourselves but there are many projects that we can do.

Some common plumbing problems include problems with the hot water, problems with the toilet, and problems with drainage in the sink of tubs. With hot water sometimes you may find that there is not enough hot water. This is especially true for larger families. A common cause for this may be that the thermostat on the water heater may be set too low. A fix for this is to adjust the water heater thermostat upwards. This will allow less hot water to be used to still get the temperature that everyone wants.

A common toilet problem is when the toilet does not flush completely. This of course is evidenced by remnants remaining in the bowl after the toilet is flushed. The most common cause is that the ball in the tank is not being lifted high enough. The solution is to adjust the lift mechanism so that it lifts the ball higher in the tank.

A common sink drainage problem is the grease clog. In the case of clogs, the best thing to do is to try to prevent them in the first place. A good way to prevent grease clogs is to pour about a half gallon of boiling water down the drain every other day. However if you already have a grease clog, try pouring some hot vinegar down the drain and letting is set for about 20 minutes and then follow it with boiling water after the 20 minute vinegar soak.

Plumbing problems are one of the top reasons that professional help is sought. However, many of the plumbing problems that you will face can be solved as a DIY project. So make sure that you determine that you are not equipped to solve the problem before you call the plumber.

Common Household Toilet Plumbing Problems

When it comes to household plumbing problems that affect your toilet, there are really only a few that make up the bulk of the total. Fortunately, most of them are relatively harmless and can be remedied by the home or business owner. While it's certainly true that you should seek the advice of a professional plumber for more major jobs, the following list includes some of the more basic issues including what causes them and how to fix them:

1. Constant Trickling of Water in Toilet - Have you ever passed by your bathroom to hear the sound of your toilet bowl refilling with water even though you haven't used it? If so, you likely have a common issue referred to as "phantom flush," where the refill mechanism in the bowl turns off and on intermittently. The reason for this is likely a small leak between the tank and the bowl, creating the need for constant top offs. Typically, the leak occurs around the flapper or flapper seal and the solution is to either replace the worn flapper or to attempt to re-seat it.

2. Trickling Water into the Tank - Another common issue concerns the sound of hissing water coming from the tank portion of your toilet. Most often this is a result of a faulty float, inlet tube or valve assembly, so these are the first things that should be examined. The hissing you hear is the sound of water making its way through the inlet, which is directly affected by the position of the float valve. To fix the problem you will need to ensure that the float is in the correct position. You'll also want to check the position of the refill tube to ensure it isn't positioned to far into the overflow. If both of these components are functioning properly and the problem still persists then it's likely that you need to replace the entire ballcock assembly.

3. Clogged Toilet Drain - Ah yes, the good old clog; the bane of every homeowner. It turns out that clogs represent the most common issue when it comes to toilet maintenance. Although freeing the clog isn't always a pleasant process, fortunately there are a variety of tools to make the job easier. The most obvious device is the plunger, which is great for clearing minor clogs. All you need to do is simply place the bulb of the plunger into the drain and pump out the clog. More severe clogs may require the use of a closet auger or even the assistance of a professional service company.

Crawlspace - Underhouse - Floods - Water Under Your House Can Cause a Variety of Problems

Standing water or wet soil in your home's crawlspace can come from a variety of sources. These may include but are certainly not limited to the following.

(1) A leaking freshwater supply line, usually galvanized, copper, pvc or pex.
(2) A leaking sewer drain line, usually cast iron, galvanized, clay or ABS.
(3) Naturally high groundwater table.
(4) Over watering of plants around your home (creating a man made high water table).
(5) Sprinklers spraying through the crawlspace vents.
(6) Leaking swimming pools (this is rare).
(7) Improperly directed gutter downspouts.
(8) Stream or river flooding.

Standing water or extremely damp soil in your home's crawlspace (under house) can cause a variety of structural problems and health concerns. Excess humidity caused by the evaporation of standing water or wet soil in your crawlspace can cause mold growth on the wooden foundation and the bottom of sub flooring. It can also cause warping or buckling of sub flooring and mold growth in the living area of the building. If your home has H.V.A.C. (heating , ventilation, air conditioning) ducting in the crawlspace and the system is compromised with excess moisture, microbial amplification may result. All of these issues can possibly create unhealthy indoor air quality. A broken sewer line in your crawlspace and the subsequent release of raw sewage onto your crawlspace soil can create an awful odor problem in your home. Also there are possible health concerns to the constant inhalation of sewer gas from an open or broken sewer line.

Some solutions to the problems mentioned above. Try to determine the source of the water intrusion and correct it yourself. This may be as simple as redirecting sprinkler heads, fixing leaky outdoor faucets or redirecting gutter downspouts. If you suspect plumbing problems, you should call a licensed plumber.

Often, there is too much water under your house for a plumber to properly inspect the pipes, you may need to call a Water Damage Restoration company. Many water damage companies offer crawlspace de-flooding and or sewage cleanup, should the leak be from a sewer drain line. After the water is removed and the crawlspace made accessible a plumber can check for leaky pipes. If your foundation is wet you may need a water damage restoration company to dry it for you, in order to prevent mold growth.

If you have over watering problems or a high water table you may need to contact a landscape engineer or a water proofing contractor to design a French drain system or other remedy to keep water from accumulating under your home. Many plumbing companies or water proofing contractors will also install sump pump systems in the low area of your crawlspace to help combat water pooling. You may also want to consider having a crawlspace dehumidifier installed to regulate the relative humidity to a level that will inhibit structural damage or mold growth. Another way to keep air flowing through the crawlspace (and thereby promoting evaporation) is by installing crawlspace ventilation fans over your existing crawlspace vents. There are also companies who can completely encapsulate your crawlspace with thick plastic, thereby effectively sealing your home off from the ground.

As you can see there are many problems that can arise from excessive water or moisture in your home or buildings crawlspace and just as many solutions. Should you suspect a problem that may need a professional solution, a good place to start is on the internet with your favorite search engine and a search for "crawlspace". This should get you started in the right direction with any crawlspace (under house) issues you may have.